Nude Celebs: Ming-Na Wen - An ensemble drama anchored by an action-film star? It’s no surprise that great movie experimentalist Mike Figgis would attempt to pull something this complex off with someone like Wesley Snipes, but the choice was on the money, and Snipes does well in his role as a married commercial director who spends an erotic and emotional evening in New York City with the incredibly sexy Nastassja Kinski. The event, in turn, permeates Snipes relationship with his irritating wife (gloriously overplayed by Ming Na-Wen in a role that would shock her ER fan base) and steadily dissolves their once seemingly healthy marriage.

It’s largely a very simple story tracing the deconstruction of a marriage after Snipes gets a glimpse of something truly passionate. Set against the backdrop of Snipes’ friend who is dying of AIDS, (gut-wrenchingly played by Robert Downey Jr.) there’s a real sense of “quiet desperation” here, and the need to “fix what’s broken.”

These real world dilemmas and relationships are exquisitely realized, so that’s why it’s a real deal-breaker when Figgis cops out with an “only in Hollywood” style ending that tidies up things plot-wise, but leaves viewers feeling cheated. But looking beyond that misstep, this is an excellent character study filled with inspired casting choices and a number of stars attempting some image-breaking acting. Not all succeed, but it’s still fascinating to watch them try!

• Format: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Full Screen, Widescreen, NTSC
• Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
• Studio: New Line Home Video
• DVD Release Date: March 24, 1998
• Run Time: 103 minutes
• Production Company: New Line Cinema, Red Mullet Productions